Detailed Itinerary of the Kailash Circuit ( 18 Days )

Day 1 Arrival and acclimatization

Highlights: No visiting today, better take rest in hotel.

Schedule:

Arrive at Lhasa train station or airport, your guide and driver will pick you up there in person with a warm Tibetan style welcome ceremony by presenting you Khata and afterwards transfer you to the hotel, suggest you stay at hotel to have good rest for better acclimatization.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa

Highlights: Potala Palace, Johkang Temple, Barkhor Street

Schedule:

In the morning, visit Lhasa's landmark-Potala Palace, in which myriad chapels, audience halls, Buddhist frescoes, Thangkas, combinations of Mandela, figures of the Buddha stored. In the afternoon, visit the Johkang Temple, the center of Tibetan Buddhism, built during Songtsen Gonpo's reign by princess Wencheng of the Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. After the Johkang Temple, we will start a circular pilgrim route along Barkhor Street where you can purchase traditional Tibetan and Nepalese artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, music instrument, Thangkas, and etc.

Day 3 Sightseeing in Lhasa

Highlights: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Schedule:

In the morning, drive to Drepung monastery which used to serve as the government center in Tibet until the fifth Dalai Lama moved to the famous Potala Palace. It is the biggest Buddhism College in Tibet and once homed to more than 10000 monks. In the afternoon, drive to visit Sera monastery which is famous for its scripture debate session among monks that starting every afternoon except Sunday.

Day 4 Lhasa /Yamdrok Lake / Gyantse ( 270km, 7 hours )

Schedule:

In the morning, drive to the historic town of Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake, according to local mythology, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess, on the Gangbala Pass, you will have a clear picture of this Tibetan holy lake in turquoise, in distance you can also see the snow capped Summit of Ninjingkangsang. In Gyantse, you will find the largest stupa in Tibet-Kumpa Stupa (Ten-thousand stupa), just next to the Stupa is the Pelchor Monastery. Another important site in Gyantse is Dzong Castle which once was a battle field where Tibetan fought against British invasion.

Day 5 Gyantse /Shigatse /Sakya /Lhatse ( 240km,5 hours )

Highlights: Tashilumpo Monastery, Sakya Monastery

Schedule:

Drive to Shigatse to visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama and also one of four most important Gelugpa Sect Monateries in Tibet. In the afternoon, drive to Sakya; visit Sakya Monastery that is famed as the 'Second Dunhuang' for its colossal collection of numerous Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, murals and Thangkas. Afterwards, we will drive to Lhasa County.

Day 6 Lhatse /Shegar /Rongbuk Monastery /E.B.C ( 270kms, 7 hours )

Schedule:

Driving to Rongbuk Monastery (the highest monastery in the world) via Shegar, on the way you will cross over Gyatsola Pass at 5,220 m, which is the highest point enroute, and from the pass you will see the Himalaya mountain ranges in a clear day. In the afternoon, starting to trek from Rongbuk Monastery to E.B.C, it takes about 2 hours. Or you can take animal carriage (30RMB/per person, round-trip). Overnight at Rongbuk Guesthouse. (Dorm beds)

Day 7 Rongphu /Old Tingri /Saga. ( Around 270KM, 8-9 hours )

Schedule:

Long driving about one day over the sandy and rocky land of Tibet, other things like lake, nomads chasing thousands of yaks and sheep keep you busy. By the late afternoon you will cross Bhramha Purtra River way to typical Chinese and Tibetan town. Overnight at Saga (Guest house, dorm bed)

Day 8 Saga /Paryang ( 250km, 7-8 hours )

Schedule:

Driving from Saga to Paryang through the windswept territory passing many villages and camps of Yak herders with the distance view of snow capped mountains. Overnight at Paryang (Guest House, drom bed)

Day 9 Paryang /Lake Manasarovar ( 294km, 8 hours )

Schedule:

Prior to Mt. Kailash trekking, you have to transverse along 270 km distance from Paryang to Lake Manasorovar. This route takes you to the amazing and holy Manasarovar Lake stunningly set on the Tibetan plateau bordered by the majestic Gurla Mandata. As you approach this sacred lake, historic Chiu Monastery will come into your sight on the north-west shore of the lake. From this vantage point, you can even get a glimpse of the majestic Mt. Kailash and Gurla Mandata. This journey leaves your spirit fulfilled. Overnight at the village Hore or Chiu Monastery (Guest house, dorm bed).

Day 10 Lake Manasarovar/Darchen ( 60km, 2 hours )

Schedule:

After breakfast, it is a day for Puja & Holy bath in the holy lake. We will be doing Mansarover Parikarma by land cruiser (4520 m) 115 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. On the way, we will stop near Trugu Gompa for Holy Bath in Holy Lake Mansarovar. We will be setting seperate bathing tents for changing your clothes. During this parikarma, we will have a picnic lunch on the bank of Holy Lake Mansarovar. Time Permitting visit Chui Gompa. Later, drive to Darchen (4620 m). Darchen is located beneath the majestic holy Mount Kailash, a small village with couple of guesthouses. During the auspicious pilgrimage time, this place will be flooded with Pilgrims with hundreds of tents all around. Overnight at Hotel in Darchen

Day 11 Trek from Darchen to Dira-puk Monastery, 20km, 5 - 6 hours

Schedule:

After breakfast, drive approx. 13 Kms. to Tarboche, the trek starting point of Kailash Parikrama. Tarboche is also known as the outer "Asthapath". The first day of our Kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other local pilgrims chanting and praying. The trail leads us to few ups and downs till we reach our camp/guest house at Dira- puk (4860 m) 7 km/ 5 - 6 hours trek. We will be camping on the nice grassy meadows with a view of northwestern face of Kailash.

Lha Chu Valley blurs as you turn towards Drolma Chu Valley. You ascend to Drolma La, the highest point on the trip. But soon after the breathtaking biew of the Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, known as the Lake of Compassion, at the summit, you realize that this tough and challenging ascent has indeed been worthwhile and fruitful. Several prayer flags can be seen at the summit. Further on, the trail descends to the flat fields of Zutul-puk, which houses a monastery and several fascinating caves. These caves were used for meditation. Milarepa's cave is one of the most ancient and popular. Milarepa's footprints and elbow prints are believed to be imprinted all over this cave filled with mani stones. You then reach Zutul-PUK.

Day 13 Trek back to Darchen, 14Km, 4- 5 hours

Schedule:

Away from Zugul-Puk, you follow the trail through Bhark plain leading to Darchen. It is an easy walk along some impressive gorges and around many manic stones and mani walls back to the Bharkha Plains and dusty Darchen. The Kora has come to an end- you have erased your sins, endured cold nights and mornings, crossed some of the highest passes in the world, met countless fellow pilgrims and sent prayers of peace out to the world. Shortly after arriving at Darchen, you board the waiting vehicle for a short drive to Chi Gomapa, on the shore of the Manasarovar Lake.

The questions raised by our past customers can help you get a more clear picture about tours to Tibet, read them or tell us your own questions via the form on the right side, our specialists will reply you within 24 hours.

ello, we are willing to organized a tour of Kailash from Lhassa for a group of 4 persons (3 french and 1 from Kazakstan) around end of august. Could you provide a private tour for 4 persons ? and for what price ?

Thank you very much

St***

Answered by
Helen

Dear St***,

Greetings from Helen at Budget Tibet Tour, thanks for visiting our website and sending your inquiry. I do not know if your friend who hold Kazakstan can apply China visa, as it is quite strict for them to get China visa, and almost the embassy would turn them down. So please tell your friend about it. No offence, and we had Kazakstan clients before but failed to get China visa so cannot come to join in the tour. If there are 3 or 4 of you, and I just wonder whether it will be OK for you to join in a group tour, and we have the group tour on 12th Sept, which I can provide you some discount if all of you would like to join in, and also our group size is 4 to 12 people, so not large group. I will provide you the private tour quote too with 3 people and 4 people and also you can start it in Aug or Sept any time you want. And 30th Aug. will be Tibet Shoton festival which will last about 1 week in Lhasa, and the highlight will be the first day in Drepung Monastry for Thangka Buddha Show there. Best regards.